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About

Dailyn Acosta, PhD

I am a licensed psychologist authorized to practice via telehealth in 42 states through the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), with an in-person location in Texas. I earned my doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Texas Southwestern Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. In addition, I hold a Master’s degree in Iberian and Latin American Literatures and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame. My training and experience span clinical and health psychology, forensic settings, and academic roles in medical and research institutions, including serving as a psychologist in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Health Dallas and holding academic appointments at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. I have contributed to the field through presentations at international, national, and regional conferences, publications in peer-reviewed journals, co-authorship of textbook chapters, and research grant funding.

Dailyn Acosta cover photo

Education & Professional Background

Photo from my office
  • Former NICU Psychologist, 

  • Former Assistant Professor, Psychology, 

  • Former Infant Mental Health Mentor-Research/Faculty, 

  • Psychology Fellow, Irving Harris Program in Child Development and Infant  Mental Health,     

  • Clinical Psychology, PhD, 

  • Political Science, B.A.,

  • Iberian and Latin American Literatures, M.A,

Invited Lectures & Presentations

(Full list available upon request)

  • 2023, Trauma-Informed Care for Health Care Providers, Pediatric Dysphagia Symposium Conference, Children's Health

  • 2023, Supportive Parent and Infant Care Interactions in a Neuro NICU. Acosta, D. & Bordier, E., Children's Health NICU

  • 2023, Postpartum Mental Health, Children’s Health Rehabilitation and Therapy Services

  • 2022, When to Ask for Help as a Parent of a Baby in the NICU [Spanish], Hand to Hold Conference, Virtual

  • 2022, Feasibility and Acceptability of a Motivational Interviewing Intervention to Increase Maternal Presence in a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Gravens Conference

Invited Lectures, books

Publications

Publications, laptop
  • Faith, M. A., Sobalvarro, S., Schimmel-Bristow, A., Rawlins, J. T., Glock, R., Miranda, A. S. P., Dariya, V., & Acosta, D. (2025). Motivational interviewing pilot randomized trial targeting ethnically-, linguistically-, and racially-diverse mothers' Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) bedside presence. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 50(6), 456–466. 

  • El-Behadli, A. F., Germann, J. N., Pratt, C., Acosta, D., Montiel-Esparza, R., Alvarez, N., Winick, N., & Faith, M. A. (2022). Culturally adapted motivational interviewing for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia adherence: Feasibility and acceptability. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology.

  • Hoge, M.K., Heyne, E., Nicholson, T.D., Acosta, D., Mir, I., Brown, S., Heyne, R., Shaw, R., & Chalak, L. (2021). Vulnerable Child Syndrome in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A review and a new preventative intervention with feasibility and parental satisfaction data. Early Human Development.

  • Browne, J., Martinez, D., & Talmi, A. (2016). Infant Mental Health (IMH) in the Intensive Care Unit: Considerations for the Infant, the Family and the Staff. Newborn & Infant Nursing Reviews, 16, 274-280.

  • Margolis, K., Dunn, D., Herbst, R., Bunik, M., Buchholz, M., Martinez, D., & Talmi, A. (2015). Mi Bebé y Yo: A primary care group for Latina/o infants and their Spanish-speaking caregivers. Zero to Three Journal, 35(4), 35 – 43.

Book Chapters

  • Willis, T., Dowtin, L., Acosta, D., & Hansen, K. (2022). Roles, Activities, and Opportunities of Behavioral Health Clinicians in Delivering Continuity of Care. In Behavioral Health Services with High-Risk Infants and Families: Meeting the Needs of Patients, Families, and Providers in Fetal, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and Neonatal Follow-Up Settings. Oxford University Press.

  • Hooper, S., Wetherington, C. & Martinez, D. (2013). Typical Development and Factors Affecting Development. In S.R. Hooper and W. Umansky (Ed.), Young children with special needs. New Jersey: Pearson.

Research grant support

Boook, Behavioral Health

Impact of a motivational interviewing intervention on mothers’ visitation patterns in a level IV NICU (2018) 

Principal Investigator: Acosta, D 

Jerry M. Lewis, M.D. Mental Health Research Foundation

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